JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn.- Riding a nine-match unbeaten streak, Carson-Newman men's soccer (6-1-5, 4-0-4) plays as host to Lincoln Memorial (6-4-1, 4-2) tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.
The nine-match unbeaten streak ties the longest under Stephen Lyons. His team had a nine-match unbeaten streak in 2017, before a loss. C-N went on a ten-match unbeaten streak during the 2015 season.
C-N enters the match with 16 points, good for first place in the South Atlantic Conference standings, but just one point separates them from second place Wingate. Lincoln Memorial has 12 points and is in sixth place.
The Eagles came just short of a road victory on Saturday against Lenoir-Rhyne. LR's Harri Rowe scored in the 86th minute to tie the match. Senior Harry Whitehead got the Eagles on the board in the 52nd minute, off a good cross from fellow senior Tim Vercelli.
Vercelli and senior Nic Carsh each have four goals scored to lead the Eagles attack. Senior Willem Kruijk has a team-high five assists. He is tied for 2nd in the SAC in assists.
Senior defender Ben King moved into 4th all-time in career minutes played during the match against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday. He has played in 4,838 minutes, appearing in 63 games with 54 starts.
Fellow senior defender Eric Schmutzer is the only C-N player to start in every game this season. Seven others have played in all twelve games this season.
Senior goalkeeper Darrin De Meza made a career-high saves last time out. He ranks top five in the SAC, in goals allowed, save percentage, and goals against average.
C-N is 4-0-2 at home this season and 2-0-2 against the SAC at McCown field.
Lincoln Memorial is playing some of its best soccer of the season. The Railsplitters have won three straight matches. This past week, LMU defeated #25 Catawba 1-0 and RV Mars Hill 1-0 as well.
Harry Cooke is tied for 2nd in the SAC with six goals scored this season. Hunter Stroble is tied for 2nd in the league with five assists.
LMU swept the weekly SAC honors, Christian Hatley won offensive player of the week for scoring both goals in the wins for LMU last week. Goalkeeper Alan Johnson won defensive player of the week for recording two clean sheets in the wins. He made ten saves in the two shutout wins.
Away from home, LMU is 2-1 this season. It's the first time since 2018, it has won multiple road games in the same season.
C-N has won six of the last seven meetings and has outscored LMU 17-4.
Be certain to follow Carson-Newman athletics on twitter at @cn_eagles for live updates.
The game can be streamed on FloSports with a subscription.
